By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: Punjab is once again heading for a period of turmoil not because Sikhs are facing any immediate threat from the Indian eastablishment or some forces from outside are challenging the religious and political existing of Sikhs. It is due to those very forces who have lost credibility in public and creating internal conflict among the Sikhs would well serve their purpose of creating fear psychosis among the Sikhs and Hindus.
The SAD-BJP government in Punjab is facing strong under current of anti-incumbency and people of Punjab are eagerly looking for a change in 2017 assembly elections. Punjab has seen enough of drug menace, involvement of political leaders in drug smuggling, emergence of sand, liqwuor and transport mafia. The farminers are committing suicides, the economy of state is shattered, primary health sector is crumbling, youth is struggling for unemplyment and crime rate is at its peack. The voters in last Lok Sabha poll voted against SAD-BJP candidates across party lines. The SAD and BJP leaders are quite sure that they cant return to power in normal circumstances. The desparation is more high because of clubbing of business and political interests of ruling family.
Punjab is a sensitive territory and political parties in the past too had been using panthic agenda to mislead the people to gain power. The fear is that SAD may drive the state to a position where radical forces would pose a challenge to the eastablishment and an ambitious circle of state repression would begin. SAD and BJP both are frustrated political parties having bleak future.
It seems the chain of events happening in Punjab is part of written script to change the agenda of state. Begining with exoneration of Dera Sacha Sauda by Akal Takht and followed by sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, police firing on peaceful Sikh protesters at Korkapura, arrest of two brothers for Bargari sacrilege incident, the edict issued by Panj Piaras, the suspension of panj piaras. It coincided with repeated statements by SAD leaders challenging "unidentified" anti-Punjab forces, reiterating they will not allow to peace to be disturbed. Neither the real culprits of sarilege were ever arrested and nor the anti-Punjab forces were identified.
The SAD and BJP understood to have common interest to revive the issue of Khalistan or separate state for Sikhs. During the last nine years of SAD-BJP rule, the radical Sikh groups never talked about the separate Sikh state or started any agitation. All of a sudden some hidden forces prompted the Akal Takht Jathedar to pardon the dera Sacha Sauda Chief, a chain of descretion of Guru Granth Sahib started which had never happened in the history of India. Theres seems an agenda of provoking radical Sikhs to raise the buried issues of Sikh identity. The state Government allowed the radical Sikhs to hold Sarbat Khalsa and all the provocating speeches and resolutions were passed. The appointment of Babbar Khalsa leader Jagtar Singh Hawara as Jathedar of Akal Takht is clear evidence that it was an attempt to fuel confrontation between sections of Sikhs and the state government.
The radical Sikh groups involved in holding Sarbat Khalsa are not above the board. Most of them are former militants rehabiliated by SAD and BJP government. Wassan Singh Zaffarwal the former chief of Khalistan Commando Force is an example who entered India through Nepal border and his arrest was shown from Amritsar bus stand. He was acquitted in half a dozen cases of murder and decoitee. The other players included Dhian Singh Mand, Amril Singh Ajnala other former militant leaders. It was matter of concern that these elements were being promoted by eastablishment by giving them space in the religious domain. The way the radicals are being provocated tro react it is not without a purpose. These groups are many times in the past were rejected by Sikhs. Even arrest of radical Silkh leaders after Sarbat Khalsa indicates, everything is going on as per the script. Who stopped Government from arresting them before the Sarbat Khalsa.
The SAD has harmed the Sikh institutions like Akal Talkht and SGPC. Denying that SAD is not using these bodies to promote their political interests would be big lie.
It would not be out of context that SAD-BJP regime has been facing biggest threat from Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) and the sole aim of them is stop emergence of AAP in Punjab. Since Congress party is in no position to provide an alternative government, the people of Punjab are inclined to experiment with AAP.
For the last few months the SAD leaders are targeting the AAP policies. The Interestingly AAP is common enemy of SAD, BJP and Congress. The recent statements issued by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Captain Amarinder Singh that Punjab is a border state and parties like AAP cant manage the government here due to sensitive nature of issues show the fear of AAP. Badal had made first major statement against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal before the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib began in Punjab. Even recently, when Arving Kejriwal came to meet the victims of police firing in Kotkapura, the SAD leaders had blamed him for interefering in Punjab and disturbing peace.
The people of Punjab need to identify the anti-Punjab forces and beware of designs of these powers which are bent to disturb the peace and harmony for vested political interests.